Which material is commonly used for shielding in instrumentation?

Foil is commonly used for shielding in instrumentation primarily due to its ability to provide effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection while being lightweight and flexible. Foil shields can reflect and absorb electromagnetic waves, which helps to minimize signal degradation in sensitive instrumentation applications. This is particularly important in environments where electronic devices are operating close together, as interference from one device can affect the performance of another.

Foil shielding is also advantageous because it can be easily shaped and applied to various types of cables and components. By incorporating foil in the design of instrumentation, engineers can ensure a higher quality signal transmission, reduce noise, and maintain the integrity of data being gathered or transmitted by the instruments. This makes foil an ideal choice in contexts where electronic signals must remain unaffected by external noise sources.

While materials like copper and steel can also provide shielding benefits, foil is specifically used for its unique properties that balance effectiveness with practicality in many instrumentation contexts. Plastic, on the other hand, generally does not provide the needed conductive properties to serve as an effective shield.